Machine for making paper tubes.



S. I. PRESGGTT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPEn TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED 11160.22, 1905.

2 sums-sum 1 X lNiiNTOR Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

. the seam. In

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYDNEY I. PRESCOTT, OE'NEw YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE- AMERICANTOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A 'CORBORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Original application filed November 12, 1904, Serial No. 232,480.Divided and this application filed December 22, r905. Serial No.292,900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, SYDNEY I. PRESCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forMa-kingPaper Tubes, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.I k

This invention relates to certain improvements in machinesfor makingpaper tubes. Specifically considered, the invention has in viewtheimprovement of that class of together by the action of seaming deviceswhich act to lock the edges of the tube by crimping, the tube being thusformed without the use of paste. In these machines as heretoforeconstructed, the'strip of paper is first acted upon by a paper formingdevice which turns the paper up into either a cylindrical or a-troughlike form, and the paper then passes along a guide, the walls of whichare cylindrical in form. After the paper has been converted into truecylindrical form, the devices by which the seam is formed act t eoperation of these machines, however, it has been found diflicult .tocause the thin paper to travel truly through the cylindrical guide, theedges of the paperbeing apt to shift as the paper.

passes from tapering into cylindrical form, so that the edges do notcome together truly. It is, of course, desirable in machines of thistype to have the tube making devices of such a character that the tubewill be continuously formed, as this obviates the necessity of anintermittent paper feed and increases the capacity of the machine. Themachines heretofore constructed, in which the tube making devicesoperated continuously, operated to sever the tubes into lengths beforethe mouth-pieces were inserted therein, so that they required a specialmechanism for handling these severed tube lengths, which which the tooverlap theed es of the paper and to lock mechanism had to be carefullyconstructed on account of the delicacy and fragile character of thetubes.

' One of the objects of this invention is to produce a machine formaking tubes in paper is required to travel in cylindrical preliminaryforming devices operate uponit and the seam forming devices operate.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine for makingcigarette shells which shall employ a continuously operating tubeforming mechanism and in between the time when thewhich the mouth-piecesshall be inserted in the tube sections before these sections are severedfrom the tube as it issues from the continuously operating tube formingmechanand in certain parts, improvements andcombinations as will behereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

Referring to the drawings -Figure 1 illustrates in plan view, and partlyin section, so much of an apparatus for making tubes and insertingmouthie'ces therein as will enable the invention to lie understood. Fig.2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the construction.illustrated in Fig. 1, certain parts of the construction shown in Fig. 1being, however, omitted. Fig. 3 is an end .view of the machineillustrated in Fig. 1 illustrating more particularly the drivingmechanism. Fi 4 is a section on the line 47-4 of Fig. 3. ig. 5 is a planview of the means employed for forming the strip into tubular form andthe seaming devices. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the constructionshown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig.6. Fig. 8 is a detail section on theline 88 of Fig. 6, certain artsbeing omitted. Fig. 9 is an end view ooking in the direction opposite tothat in: which Fig. 7 is taken, the forming mandrel being shown section.Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating theoperations plerformed in forming the tu e and seaming t e same. 7

The mechanism which has been selected to illustrate the inventionembodies the tube forming and the mouth-piece making and insertingmechanism of an organized ma- .chine for forming mouth-piece cigarettes,

this machine being shown in its entirety in an application filedNovember 12 1904, Ser. No. 232,480, for improvements n c garettemachines, of which this applicatlon 1s a division.

Machines embodying the invent-ion will be provided with a source ofpaper supply, which will usually be a sultably mounted reel by which thepaper is delivered to the tube making mechanism. As the construction andmode of mounting the paper supplying devices are not material to thepresent invention, they are not lllustrated. The paper supplying deviceswill deliver the paper to the tube forming mechanism whlch may be widelyvaried in its construction. As

shown, there is provided a carrier block 98 (see Figs. 5,6 and 7) thiscarrier block serving to support a mandrel 99 around Wh1ch the strip ofpaper is folded. A guide 1s provided to cooperate with the-mandrel 1nforming the strip or web of paper into-tubular shape. While theconstruction of th 1s guide may be varied, in the best constructions,the guide will be generally tubular in form, as indicated at 100 in Fig.7 The gulde, 1n the preferred construction, will be internally tapered,so as to progressively effect the shaping of the strip.

In order that the strip may retain its tubular form, it is, of course,necessary that the edges be secured together. While this may be efiectedin any desired way, in the best constructions, the securin of the edgesof the strip will be efiecte them to form a seam, thus avoiding the useof paste. The means by which the edges of the strip are interlocked maybe varied. In

the best constructions, however, the mandrel willbe provided with aseaming rib, marked 101 (see Figs. 8 and 9), and the interior of theguide with a cooperating seaming rib 102. For convenience 1nconstruction and to enable the parts to be readily gotten at, the guidewill be made in two parts, one of the parts, marked 103, carrying theseaming rib. 1: will be observed that the interior surface of the part103 of the guide is curved and tapered so that when it is in position,the curve and taper correspond with the curve and taper of the bore ofthe remainder of the 1de. The part 103' is secured to the carrier 98 byscrews 104:, or in .any other suitable manner. The uide is slid into anopening in the carrier b ock which it fits snugly. As in theconstruction shown, the mandrel may be supported by the carrier block,and the support may be of any suitable char- ,acter. In the bestconstructions, however,

the supporting device will be of sucha character that the mandrel andits seaming rib will be properly centered in the guide by the act ofinserting the mandrel. In the construction shown, the mandrel isprovided with a circular supporting block 105, said by interlockingblock fitting in a recess in the carrier block 98, and being connectedwith the mandrel by a web 106. The guide is slotted, as indicated at 107(see Figs. 6 and 7), the web 106 passing through the slot. It isapparentthat if the slot 107 in'the guide be properly located with respect tothe seaming rib 102,

the act of slipping the mandrel into position will not only properlycenter it, but at the same time, it will bring the seaming rib 101 intoproper relation with its cooperating rib;

of the guide the paper is under the control ofthe mandrel and guide notonly during the shaping, but also during the folding operation by whichthe seam is formed, the seaming and shaping progressing simultaneously.This will be apparentfrom an inspection of the diagrams, Figs. 10 to 15'inclusive,

which show the formation. of the tube and seam atsuccessive steps in theoperation. Fig. 10 shows the paper after it has begun to assume itstubular form; in Fig. 11, the edges of the paper have been caused toapproach nearer toeach other, and in Fi 12, the edges have been slightlyoverlappe and the bending of the edges by which the interlock-ing seamis to be formed has been begun.

An inspection of. Fig. 13 shows" that the diameter of the tube has beenreduced by a still further overlapping of the edges of the paper, and atthe same time the bend in each edge of the paper has been increased. InFig. 14, the overlapping of'theedges has been increased and at the sametime the bends in the edgesof the. paper have been still furtherinterlocked. Fig. 15 shows the tube well shaped up and the edgesinterlocked so that it is ready for the actionfit the pressing devicewhich' is employed "to flatten down the interlocked parts of the paper.spection of these diagrams that the paper in its travel through thevarious agencies so far described has not been caused to change fromwhat may be termed a taper into what may be termed a cylindrical form.The interiqr of the guide is cone shaped and the taper corresponds inshape thereto. In other words, a short length of tube anywhere along thelength of the guide will correspond in shape to the frustum of a coneand not to a cylinder. The seam-formin devices are not, therefore,acting on a formed circular tube which has had the material for formingthe seam previously brought into position, but the material for formingthe seam is supplied to the seam forming devices from the frame.llerably be a driven wheel.

short shaft 111 supported in a bearing car-.

ried on a bracket 112 extending upward The wheel 110 will pref- Thedriving of this wheel maybe efi'ectedin any desired manner. As shown,the shaft 111 is provided with a spiral gear 113 which meshes with aspiral gear 114 mounted on ashaft 115, one end of which is supported m abearing in the bracket 112 and the other end of which is supported in astandard or bracket 116 rising from the frame. This shaft 115 isprovided with a gear 117 meshmg w1th a gear 118 on a way shaft 119 whichis themain shaft of the tube forming mechanism. The driving of the wayshaft 119 may be effected in any desired manner. As shown in thedrawings, the shaft 119 is'provided with a bevel gear 121 which mesheswith abevel gear 122 on a shaft 123 supported in standards 124 whichrise from the bed of the machine. The shaft 123 (see Figs. 1 and 3) isprovided with a gear 126 which is driven by means of idle gears 127 froma gear 128 mounted on a shaft 129, this shaft being journaled in ahanger 130 and in one of the legs of the machine. The shaft 129 isprovided with fast and loose pulleys 131, 132 which will be belted to asuitable source of power.

The tube forming mechanism which has been previously described operates,it will be understood, to form continuous tubes, these tubes being cutinto lengths, and, m

the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention, the lengthshave mouth-pieces inserted therein; While the mouth-piece forming andinserting mechanism may be of any suitable character and may be arrangedto operate at any desired time, in the construction shown, the insertion'of the mouth-piece is begun-before the tube length is severed Themouth-piece inserting mechanism illustrated in connection with'themachine embodies a coiling spindle 147 (see Fig. 1),

The coiling spindle 147 is provided with a nick or slot in its side intowhich the edge of the mouth-piece blank cut from a strip of The windingspindle is driven from a short shaft 149 carrying a gear 150 which isdriven through a proper train of gearing from the way-shaft 119 (seeFig. 1). The stopping and starting of the winding spindle are controlledby a clutch mechanism, marked 151. The construction of the drivingmechanism, the clutch mechanism and the winding spindle is substantiallythe same as that doscribed in the Patent No. 721,087, dated Feb.

17, 1903, granted to The American Tobacco Company as the assignee of S.D. and S. S. D. Rakowitzky. Specific descrlption, therefore, of thispart of the mechanism is not necessary, reference being made to theabove patent therefor.

The transferring tube 148 is driven from a slide 152, this slide beingconnected by a link 153 (see -Figs. 2 and 4) to a lever 154 which isoperated by an eccentric and strap 155 mounted on the shaft 129.Attention is called to the fact that while the construction of themouth-piece coiling mechanism, the

to illustrate the invention, the mouth-piece winding and transferringmechanism is arranged in line with the continuously advanclng tube whichis being delivered by the 'forming devices. The result of thisconstruction is that it isipossible to begin' the.

introduction of the mouth-{piece into the 'tube'lengthbefore it is cut 0After the mouth-piece has entered the.

tube, the tube length is cut off by any suitable movable or travelingmechanism, as, for instance, by shears 156, these shears being carriedon asliding rod 157 which has a camlug 158 secured thereto, this lugworking in a cam 159 secured to the shaft115 before referred to. Thisconstruction gives the -cutters a traveling movement with the cigarette.tube while cutting, as is common in machines of this general type.

After th, 'cigarette tube length has been out oh and as the mouth-pieceand tube are retreating, the tube at this time being over themouth-piece transferring tube 148, the insertion o the mouth-piece iscompleted and the mouth iece and tube are stripped from thetrans erringtube by means of a dog'160. The assembled tube and mouthpiece formingthe completed wrapper may be delivered onto a table 161 from which theypass under a re-rolling roll 162. .The construction and operation ofthis roll'may be substantially the same as the similar rerolling rolldescribed in said Rakowitzky patent.

Changes and variations may be made in the mechanism by which thisinvention is carried .into effect. The invention is not, therefore, tobe limited to the specific construction hereinbefore described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

the forming mechanism, a travelin mouth-piece inserting tube, means forreciprocating the mouth-piece inserting tube substantially in line withthe tube issuing from the forming mechanism, and a traveling cut-' tingmechanism located between the tube forming mechanism and the mouth-pieceinserting tube.

3.. The combination with a continuously operating tube formingmechanism, of a mouth-piece inserting tube, means for reciprocating themouth-piece inserting tube substantially in line with the tube issuingfrom cutting mechanism located between the tu e forming mechanism andthe mouth-piece inserting tube, and means for operating the cuttingmechanism while the mouthpiece inserting tube is in the cigarette tube.

- 4. In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a mandrel, of aguide surrounding the same and operating in connection therewith toconvert a strip of paper into tubular form, and a bending device locatedinside. the guide.

5. In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a mandrel, of atubular guide surrounding the same and operating in connection therewithto form a strip of paper into a tube, a seaming rib for operating on oneedge of the paper carried by the mandrel, and a coiiperating seamin ribfor the other edge of the paper carried y the guide.

.6. In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a mandrel, of atubular guide surroundin' the same, a block havin a curved suraceforming a part of the gulde, a seaming rib on said curved surface, and acoiiperating seaming rib on the mandrel.

7., In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a tubular guideprovided with one part of a seam forming device, of a mandrel lying inthe guide and provided with st m the other part of the seam formingdevice, and means brought into" action by the act of inserting themandrel in the guide for bringthe seam forming device into properrelation with each other.

9. In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a recessed carrierblock, of a slotted guide mounted therein, said guide carrying one partof a seam forming device, a mandrel lying in the guide and carrying theother part of the seam forming device, a positioning projection carriedby the mandrel and cooperating with the recessed block and guide wherebythe act of inserting the mandrel in the tube brings the parts of the"seam forming'device into proper relation with each other, and lockingmechanism.

10. In a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a recessed carrierblock, of a slotted tubular guide provided with a seaming rib, a mandrelprovided with a seaming rib, said mandrel having'a positioningprojection cooperating with the slot in the guide and the recess in thecarrier block, and lockin devices.

11. n a tube forming mechanism, the combination with a tubular guide,one part of which is formed by a removable block hav-' ing a seamingrib, of a mandrel having a cooperating seamin rib, and meansforsustaining the mandreI in the guide.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

SYDNEY I. PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

A. WHITE, PHILIP N. TILDEN.

